The difficulties facing firefighters are only too apparent in this latest story of an arsonist, “fascinated by fire”, who acted out of frustration because he was repeatedly rejected as a trainee firefighter by Póvoa de Lanhoso fire station.
As a result, on a boiling hot September day last year, Emmanuel, 29, started a fire with the help of a cigarette lighter which quickly became one of the season’s most devastating.
Jornal de Notícias says Emanuel’s efforts caused damages of over €600,000 to local industry and agriculture. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he ‘confessed’ to the crime in a message to his then girlfriend, Emanuel may have escaped detection. He explained in his message, that he had “acted quickly, with time to arrive and escape” before flames took hold.
As it was, Emanuel was one of many local people who turned up to help with firefighting once the alert had been raised.
Now, awaiting trial in Braga in custody, Emanuel’s case is yet another example of how difficult it is to keep this country safe every summer.
Source: Jornal de Notícias
